How to Play GTA Online: Mastering Session Types for the Best Experience

Getting into Grand Theft Auto Online for the first time can feel like stepping into chaos – albeit glorious, explosive chaos. For newcomers, especially those looking to team up with friends or family, navigating the online modes isn’t as straightforward as it seems. While GTA Online boasts a plethora of ways to play, the initial menus can be confusing, and finding clear guidance on choosing the right session type can be surprisingly difficult, even for a game that’s been around for years. You might find scattered information online, but a comprehensive roadmap to understand your session options is often missing.

This guide aims to be that roadmap. Whether you’re looking to dive into the bustling public lobbies or prefer a more private experience with friends, understanding the different session types in GTA Online is crucial. Based on firsthand experience, this article will break down each mode, helping you choose the perfect way to jump into the online world of Los Santos and beyond. Let’s dive in and figure out How To Play Gta Online the way you want.

To access the various player modes in GTA Online, it’s important to avoid the initial temptation to jump online as the game loads. When you launch Grand Theft Auto V, you’ll see options in the bottom right corner, including one for “Online.”

Clicking this option directly during loading will immediately place you into a public lobby, known in-game as “Freemode.” Instead, let the game fully load into Story Mode first. Once loaded, bring up the main menu, navigate to the “Online” tab, and select “Play GTA Online.” This will present you with a range of session options to choose from.

Exploring Your GTA Online Session Options

From the “Play GTA Online” menu, you’ll encounter several options, each offering a distinct online experience. Let’s break down each one to help you decide which session type best suits your playstyle and preferences.

1. Go to Freemode (Public Lobby): Embrace the Chaos

GTA Online Go to Freemode Option

As the description suggests, selecting “Go” throws you straight into the heart of GTA Online: the public lobby, or Freemode. This is where the game’s unscripted chaos truly unfolds. Public lobbies are dynamic environments populated by up to 30 players, all interacting in the same expansive world.

What to Expect in Freemode:

Full Access to Activities: Freemode unlocks everything GTA Online has to offer. You can participate in all types of “jobs” – races, deathmatches, missions, and more.
Heists and Businesses: Planning and executing heists with friends becomes possible, and you can engage with all in-game businesses, from setting them up to restocking supplies and selling cargo.
Daily Objectives: Complete daily objectives to earn rewards and keep your gameplay varied.
Unpredictable Player Interactions: This is where the “randomness and explosiveness” come in. You’ll encounter a mix of players, some focused on missions, others on causing mayhem, and everything in between. Expect anything from impromptu races to unexpected explosions.

Pros of Freemode:

Maximum Player Count: Experience the game with a large community.
All Activities Available: No restrictions on content.
Dynamic and Unpredictable: Every session is different.

Cons of Freemode:

Chaos and Griefing: Dealing with disruptive players is a common occurrence.
Business Vulnerability: Selling cargo in a public lobby can be risky due to other players.
Can Be Overwhelming for New Players: The sheer amount of activity can be daunting for beginners.

Freemode is ideal for players who:

Enjoy large-scale multiplayer interactions.
Don’t mind unpredictable gameplay and potential player interference.
Want access to all aspects of GTA Online.

2. Invite Only Session: A Semi-Private Playground

The “Invite Only Session” offers a step towards privacy, stating that “other players can only join if you invite them to play.” While technically true, the game doesn’t explicitly mention that invited players can also invite others, making it semi-private rather than strictly exclusive.

Key Features of Invite Only Sessions:

Host-Initiated Invitations: The session host controls the initial player pool by sending invites.
Secondary Invitations: Invited players can extend invitations to their friends, expanding the session beyond the host’s direct contacts.
Job and Heist Accessibility: You can still engage in jobs, heists, and daily objectives (unless they specifically require Freemode activities).
Business Limitations: While you can set up businesses in an Invite Only session, earning money from them is restricted. Restocking and selling cargo generally require Freemode access.

Pros of Invite Only Sessions:

More Control Over Player List: Start with a curated group of players.
Reduced Chaos Compared to Public Lobbies: Less random player interference.
Good for Playing with a Specific Group of Friends: Easier to coordinate with your chosen crew.

Cons of Invite Only Sessions:

Not Truly Private: Can grow larger than intended as invitees invite their friends.
Business Limitations: Reduced profitability from businesses compared to Freemode.
Freemode Daily Objective Restrictions: Some daily objectives are inaccessible.

Invite Only Sessions are great for:

Players who want a less chaotic environment than public lobbies.
Groups of friends who want to play together without random interruptions.
Practicing missions and heists before attempting them in public lobbies.

3. Crew Session: Team Up with Your Guild

GTA Online Crew Session Option

For players unfamiliar with GTA Online‘s terminology, the “Crew Session” can be misleading. Crews in GTA Online are not in-game motorcycle clubs, but rather social groups created through Rockstar’s Social Club website, akin to guilds or clans in other games.

Understanding Crew Sessions:

Rockstar Social Club Integration: Crews are formed and managed outside the game via the Rockstar Social Club.
Crew-Focused Gameplay: The intended purpose is to group crew members together, potentially with rival crews in the same session.
Theoretical Crew vs. Crew Scenarios: The idea is to foster competition and cooperation between crews within a session.
Potential for Empty Sessions: As the original article mentions, finding other active crews to populate a Crew Session can be challenging, sometimes resulting in sessions with only your own crew members.

Pros of Crew Sessions (Theoretically):

Organized Crew Gameplay: Facilitates playing with your established crew.
Potential for Crew-Based Challenges: Designed for inter-crew competition.

Cons of Crew Sessions (Practically):

Often Underutilized: May result in empty sessions or sessions without other crews.
Similar Limitations to Invite Only: Freemode business activities and some daily objectives are restricted.
Requires Social Club Crew Membership: You need to be part of a Social Club crew to utilize this mode effectively.

Crew Sessions are theoretically designed for:

Organized crews looking for dedicated team-based gameplay.
Crews wanting to engage in inter-crew activities (if other crews are present).

However, in practice, Crew Sessions often function similarly to Invite Only or Closed Crew Sessions due to low utilization by the broader player base.

4. Closed Crew Session: Crew Only, Private and Focused

The “Closed Crew Session” refines the Crew Session concept by creating a strictly private environment for your crew members.

Features of Closed Crew Sessions:

Exclusive to Crew Members: Only members of your Rockstar Social Club crew can join, along with those they invite from within the crew.
Private Crew Environment: Ensures a session exclusively for your crew, free from outside players.
Continued Freemode Limitations: Like other private sessions, Freemode business activities and certain daily objectives remain unavailable.

Pros of Closed Crew Sessions:

Truly Private Crew Space: Guarantees a session only with your chosen crew.
Ideal for Crew-Focused Activities: Perfect for planning and executing crew missions and heists.

Cons of Closed Crew Sessions:

Freemode Restrictions Persist: Businesses and some dailies are still limited.
Requires Active Crew Membership: Necessitates being part of a Rockstar Social Club crew.

Closed Crew Sessions are best for:

Crews that prioritize private, focused gameplay sessions together.
Crews wanting to practice strategies and build teamwork in a controlled environment.

5. Closed Friend Session: Your Personal Circle

GTA Online Closed Friend Session Option

The “Closed Friend Session” offers another layer of privacy, focusing on playing exclusively with your platform friends (PlayStation, Xbox, or PC friends lists).

Characteristics of Closed Friend Sessions:

Host’s Friend List Focus: The host can invite players directly from their platform’s friend list.
No Secondary Invitations: Unlike Invite Only sessions, invited friends cannot invite others, maintaining a tighter circle.
Freemode Limitations Apply: Freemode businesses and related activities are still restricted.

Pros of Closed Friend Sessions:

Highly Private Friend Group: Ensures you play only with your chosen friends.
Simple Invitation Process: Easy to invite directly from your platform’s friend list.
Good for Trusted Gameplay: Ideal for playing with people you know and trust.

Cons of Closed Friend Sessions:

Most Restrictive in Terms of Player Pool: Limited to the host’s friend list.
Freemode Limitations Remain: Businesses and some daily objectives are still inaccessible.

Closed Friend Sessions are perfect for:

Players who want the most private experience with a select group of friends.
Friends who want to play missions, races, and team-based activities together without external interference.

6. Solo Session: San Andreas in Solitude

GTA Online Solo Session Option

For ultimate privacy, the “Solo Session” offers complete isolation in GTA Online. As the description states, “nobody else can join this session,” but this comes with significant activity limitations.

Limitations of Solo Sessions:

Complete Isolation: You are the only player in the session.
Severely Restricted Activities: Most “jobs” are unavailable, including missions.
Limited Job Options: Primarily restricted to races, parachuting, and survival modes.
No Freemode Activities: Businesses and Freemode events are inaccessible.

Pros of Solo Sessions:

Absolute Privacy: Enjoy the world of GTA Online entirely alone.
Exploration and Freedom from Interference: Explore San Andreas at your own pace without any distractions or threats from other players.
Ideal for Photography and Relaxation: Perfect for taking screenshots, exploring the map, or simply relaxing in the game world.

Cons of Solo Sessions:

Highly Limited Gameplay: Most of GTA Online‘s content is unavailable.
Not Suitable for Core GTA Online Activities: Heists, missions, businesses, and most jobs are inaccessible.
Potentially Less Engaging Long-Term: The lack of activities can lead to boredom for players seeking action and progression.

Solo Sessions are best suited for:

Players who want to explore the GTA Online world in complete solitude.
Players who want to practice driving or flying skills without interruption.
Players who want to take screenshots or create machinima in a private environment.

Bonus Tip: The Solo Public Lobby

While not an official session type, it’s worth noting that there are methods to enter a public lobby in GTA Online by yourself. This allows you to enjoy the benefits of Freemode (businesses, all activities) without other players. These methods often involve temporary network manipulations and can be platform-specific. A quick online search for “GTA Online solo public lobby” for your platform will provide instructions if you’re interested in this option.

Choosing the Right Session for You

Understanding the different session types in GTA Online is key to tailoring your online experience. Whether you crave the bustling chaos of Freemode, the controlled environment of a private session with friends, or the solitary exploration of a Solo Session, GTA Online offers options for every playstyle. Experiment with each type to discover your preferred way to wreak havoc (or, you know, play nicely) in Los Santos and beyond!

All images captured by the author during PlayStation 4 gameplay of Grand Theft Auto Online © Rockstar North, Rockstar Games (2013).